For 20 years Craig Randal Johnson has performed “Piano Music from Finland”. This year he has put up a special Independence Program, please join in!

Piano music recital – Finnish Classical Music Past and Present

For this twentieth year of “Piano Music from Finland” Craig Randal Johnson will play a program featuring music closely related to Finnish independence 100 years ago, as well as the Finnish Civil War period. Featured composer is Einojuhani Rautavaara, who passed away last summer, and is considered one of the most important composers since Sibelius. You will hear music by Jean Sibelius also, as well as Toivo Kuula, Joonas Kokkonen, Leevi Madetoja and Erkki Melartin.

Message from Craig:

“The program will focus on music and composers working at the time of Finnish independence as well as the Civil War. The connection between two giants of Finnish history, Gustaf Mannerheim and Jean Sibelius, will be explored. There will be a tribute to the late great composer Einojuhani Rautavaara as well. Plan to attend this program of great piano music relating to Finnish history.”

The concert will take place Jan. 23 at Normandale Lutheran Church, 6100 Normandale Blvd, Edina, at 7 p.m.

Admission is free, but donations will be welcome to support this recital and upcoming programs in the ‘Finnish Classical Music Past and Present’ series.

About FinnSource

A group of Minnesota Finnish people got together during the 2015 winter season to connect several Finnish groups and organizations together to get ready for the 2017 Finland 100 Year Celebration. Today we call it FinnSource!